SWEET BRIAR, Va. – Sweet Briar College honored its student-athletes at the annual Athletics & Riding Awards Ceremony, held on May 8th at Upchurch Field House.

The ceremony was kicked off with welcome messages from the Director of Athletics, Donna Hodgert ’89, and President Mary Pope Maybank Hutson ’83.

Following the welcome messages, 17 student-athletes were then inducted into the Omicron chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. This year’s inductees are Evelyn Anderson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Rory Breglio (Parker, Colo.), Clara Delattre (Long Lake, Minn.) Evelynn Forrest (Yorktown, Va.), Jaiana Gray (Chicago, Ill.), Ruby Hite (Clarksville, Va.), Gigi Hutman (Bordentown, N.J.), Sunny Iskra (Lakeland, Fla.), Kailei Minter (Martinsville, Va.), Maggie Minton (Wytheville, Va.), Ciara Nauful (Forest, Va.), Sarah Pastula (Rockford, Mich.), Emily Roberts (Walkertown, N.C.), Elyse Samassekou (Huntington, W. Va.), Mia Viccora (Fairfax, Va.), Kendel Wickline (Frederick, Md.) and Eleanor Yeatts (Lexington, S.C.).

Senior Ilka-Marie Kuleba (Endy, N.C.), the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President for the 2025-26 year, spoke about the club’s activities over the past year, which included hosting a canned food drive for Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Madison Heights, Va., organizing a Christmas card-making event for the residents of Fairmont Crossing Health and Rehab Center in Amherst, Va., participating in Amherst County Day and events for DIII Week like Pie a Coach, the dodgeball tournament and pep rally.

Kuleba then presented the Robert Barlow Faculty and Staff Award to Thomas Kirkpatrick, a member of the College’s grounds department who ensures that our playing fields stay in competition shape.

Each coach then spoke briefly, reflecting on the past season, before handing out the Crispen Awards. Crispen Award winners are chosen at the coaches’ discretion with no standard criteria. This year’s winners included:

• Cross Country: Amanda Costa (Watertown, N.Y.)
• Field Hockey: Emmi Burdine (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
• Golf: Isabella Peregrine (Liberty, Mo.)
• IHSA: Sarah Pastula (Rockford, Mich.)
• Lacrosse: Liz Carr (Charlottesville, Va.)
• NCEA: Maggie Booth (Marietta, Ga.)
• Soccer: Mia Viccora (Fairfax, Va.)
• Softball: Ilka-Marie Kuleba (Endy, N.C.)
• Swimming: Emily Carter (Kermit, W. Va.)
• Tennis: Alex Guilarte (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)
• Track & Field: Tyasia Spencer (Fredericksburg, Va.)
• Volleyball: Gracyn Wright (Rock Hill, S.C.)

This year’s Jean Pschirrer First-Year Athlete Award winner was first-year Sophia Peterson (Ashland, Va.) of the softball team. Peterson spent most of the season batting third in the Vixen lineup and ranked among the top of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in doubles while maintaining a batting average in the upper .300s. She was also named to the All-ODAC Third Team as a designated player the day before the ceremony.

Senior Lucia Bovard (Mount Pleasant, N.C.) of tennis was named the Class of 1977 Sportsmanship Award winner. Bovard is a team captain and is always the first to organize and rally her teammates. Additionally, she was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Women’s ECAC Championship in 2025.

For the second-straight year, the Whiteman Scholar-Athlete Award went to junior Maggie Minton (Wytheville, Va.), a member of the tennis program. Minton is graduating early with a 4.0 GPA as an engineering science major and also already has a job offer lined up post-graduation.

The department voted to give out the Susan Lehman Courage Award this year to first-year equestrian student-athlete Eva Crowley (Durham, N.C.). Crowley was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in February of 2024 and has gone on to not only beat cancer, but become an exceptional member of the NCEA team, competing and winning her point in a meet against Sewanee. Crowley also maintains a 4.0 GPA while serving as president of the first-year class.

First-year Sadie Swift (Leonardtown, Md.) was crowned this year’s Rookie Rider of the Year. Swift competed on both the IHSA and NCEA teams and was named All-America Honorable Mention over fences in addition to competing in the prestigious Cacchione Cup. She was named Zone 4 Reserve Champion in open flat and ODAC Fences Co-Rookie of the Year, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA as an engineering science major.

This year’s Rookie Athlete of the Year was first-year Elaina Sherline (Morehead City, N.C.), who had outstanding seasons in cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field. Sherline currently holds seven program records: 4K, mile, 4x400, DMR, 800m, 1500m, and 4x400m. She also placed 4th at the ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m.

Junior Ambyre Taylor (Arrington, Va.) of softball was named the 2025-26 Athlete of the Year. As a pitcher, Taylor finished the season with a 12-7 record, a career-high 132 strikeouts, a career-high in wins and a career-low ERA of 3.15. She also helped lead the team in the circle to the program’s first-ever victory against Randolph-Macon. Taylor was also valuable at the plate for the Vixens, hitting a walk-off grand slam to open the season.

The Rider of the Year Award went to senior Naomi Dachis (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) of the equestrian. Dachis was crowned the NCEA Single Discipline Rider of the Year over fences and secured the highest-adjusted NRS score over fences out of all athletes in the league with a 102.5. Additionally, Dachis was also an All-America First Team over fences honoree and an All-Academic First Team award winner every year she was eligible.

Once again, the department voted to hand out the Coaches’ Award, this year to senior Alex Guilarte (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) of tennis. Alex has been an integral part of the program all four years and held down the No. 1 singles and doubles spots this season. Guilarte also spends time working at the Fitness & Athletic Center (FAC) and helps out with gameday operations. Additionally, Guilarte is routinely named to both the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and ODAC Scholar-Athlete teams.

Our final award of the night was the prestigious Crysler Award. This year’s winner was senior Wyette Felton (Canton, Ga.) of equestrian. Felton is dedicated, not only in the ring, but in the classroom as well, and her list of accomplishments is extremely long. This year, Felton was named the ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year, All-American Honorable Mention on the flat and All-Academic First Team honoree. Felton was also a team captain from 2024 onwards and a member of the Riding Council since 2023.

To watch a replay of the full awards ceremony, head to vixensportsnetwork.com.

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